How to manage post-holiday blues

You were just on a beach drinking martinis. Or, a few days ago you hugged your loved ones goodbye after a week of parties, good food, and friends.

The bright cheer of the holidays is over. Now we are packing up decorations. For some of us, our days return to early morning rides in LA traffic. We face a computer screen, deadlines, and an office environment.

Post-Holiday Blues

For some of us, returning to normalcy after the holidays can bring up feelings of sadness and loss. These feelings can be especially overwhelming if we are unsatisfied with our jobs or our lives in general. They can also become more intense during times of transition in our lives, when we are already dealing with challenges and changes we may not be comfortable with yet.

It is important, however, to understand post-holiday and post-vacation blues are normal, and if you are feeling a little blue after the holidays, usually (unless there are deeper issues going on) these feelings do not last long.

An opportunity for change

If returning to your regular life pattern inspires a deep sadness, this is likely a signal that you need to bring change into your life.

Everyone needs something to look forward to. If we have nothing to anticipate on a regular basis, we need to stop and think about how this happened. Next, we need to brainstorm. What brings us joy?

A joyful event does not have to be a vacation on a tropical beach. It can be taking time for a coffee with a friend. It can be going to a movie. Treating ourselves to a good book, or a bubble bath.

If you are interested in newness and adventure, you can also take the time to explore what Los Angeles has to offer.

The idea that we only get two weeks of fun time every year can bring up feelings of sadness and a lack of purpose. Take the initiative to bring more pleasure and joy into your life on a regular basis.

Is it depression?

Some people are more vulnerable to depression during the winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs at the same time each year. It arrives during the fall and winter months and then tends to reduce during the spring and summer. You can read more about the signs and symptoms of seasonal depression here.

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder can include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy, and/or medications. Seasonal Depression is more complicated than simply a case of the “winter blues” and should be diagnosed and treated.

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